Young Will Shakespeare: Novels by Linda Fisher

Linda Fisher’s first novel about William Shakespeare, A Will of Her Own, was inspired by the realization that, since he was an excellent judge of human nature, Shakespeare would probably have made a wonderful sleuth. Typically, middle school English students read Romeo and Juliet; Runaway Will echoes elements of that story in the relationship between Will and Melita. Despite being fiction, both of Fisher’s novels about Shakespeare teach factual information about him and the society in which he lived and which shaped his plays.

Linda Fisher began writing stories when she was ten years old and graduated to novel-writing as a junior in high school in order to understand why her algebra teacher seemed unhappy. Instead of poring over the algebra textbook, she created a fictional history for the woman: a fiance who died in World War II was the reason for the teacher’s great misery. (It is more likely that the teacher was simply unhappy with Fisher’s performance on algebra tests.)

For most of her working life, Fisher has taught junior high and high school English, but she also owned and operated a candy store, wrote tourism articles and brochures, hosted a television interview show, and worked (all too briefly) as a carhop. She and her husband Earl live in Prattville, Alabama, and have four children and five grandchildren.

Linda Fisher’s first novel about William Shakespeare, A Will of Her Own, was inspired by the realization that, since he was an excellent judge of human nature, Shakespeare would probably have made a wonderful sleuth. Typically, middle school English students read Romeo and Juliet; Runaway Will echoes elements of that story in the relationship between Will and Melita. Despite being fiction, both of Fisher’s novels about Shakespeare teach factual information about him and the society in which he lived and which shaped his plays.

Linda Fisher began writing stories when she was ten years old and graduated to novel-writing as a junior in high school in order to understand why her algebra teacher seemed unhappy. Instead of poring over the algebra textbook, she created a fictional history for the woman: a fiance who died in World War II was the reason for the teacher’s great misery. (It is more likely that the teacher was simply unhappy with Fisher’s performance on algebra tests.)

For most of her working life, Fisher has taught junior high and high school English, but she also owned and operated a candy store, wrote tourism articles and brochures, hosted a television interview show, and worked (all too briefly) as a carhop. She and her husband Earl live in Prattville, Alabama, and have four children and five grandchildren.

This is a fascinating story of intrigue and murder set in murky sixteenth-century London, where a young man named Luke makes friends with a young actor/playwright named Will Shakespeare. But Luke really is fifteen-year-old Lady Lucinda, a young woman who has disguised herself as a boy so she can act in a play. Only males were allowed to act in plays in Elizabethan England. As a boy, however, Lucy finds herself fighting off assailants and even getting involved in a duel. Together, Luke and Will have a series of adventures that lead to uncovering and foiling a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth.

As Lady Lucinda, "Luke" is a dutiful daughter of a lord, and no one suspects her double life. As she explains to Will Shakespeare, it is her brother who has all the fun; she leads a sheltered, dull life.

"When well done, historical novels are great fun. A Will of Her Own is great fun…. Sword play and word play abound, and the novel moves with the precision and suppleness of a fencing match…. The plot turns on various cases of mistaken identity and deliciously echoes The Comedy of Errors, a device which enhances the fun…. Fisher has made her first-person narrative convincing and believable." – Professor Peter Huggins, Auburn University

See the link beneath the book cover on this page for free downloadable study notes.

This is a fascinating story of intrigue and murder set in murky sixteenth-century London, where a young man named Luke makes friends with a young actor/playwright named Will Shakespeare. But Luke really is fifteen-year-old Lady Lucinda, a young woman who has disguised herself as a boy so she can act in a play. Only males were allowed to act in plays in Elizabethan England. As a boy, however, Lucy finds herself fighting off assailants and even getting involved in a duel. Together, Luke and Will have a series of adventures that lead to uncovering and foiling a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth.

As Lady Lucinda, "Luke" is a dutiful daughter of a lord, and no one suspects her double life. As she explains to Will Shakespeare, it is her brother who has all the fun; she leads a sheltered, dull life.

"When well done, historical novels are great fun. A Will of Her Own is great fun…. Sword play and word play abound, and the novel moves with the precision and suppleness of a fencing match…. The plot turns on various cases of mistaken identity and deliciously echoes The Comedy of Errors, a device which enhances the fun…. Fisher has made her first-person narrative convincing and believable." – Professor Peter Huggins, Auburn University

See the link beneath the book cover on this page for free downloadable study notes.

From the moment sixteen-year-old Will Shakespeare runs away from home, his goal is to avoid danger. But fate ignores Will’s plan. “You’re a handsome boy,” Volka, the old gypsy queen, tells him. “With the right clothes, you’ll fit in with us.” Fit in with these fearsome gypsies? With their whips and knives and bears? Never! Then again, when you’re on the run, hiding from authorities, home is where you find it.

How and why did William Shakespeare go to London from Stratford? How and where did he first learn to write plays? When did he first fall in love? Runaway Will has some highly original answers while transporting readers to an adventure among the sometimes violent but also romantic gypsies in Elizabethan England.

“Runaway Will is an entertaining and quick-paced read. Young readers will enjoy following Will through several scrapes and narrow misses, and even older readers will find themselves entranced by Fisher’s historical accuracy...." – Mollie Smith Waters, English and theater instructor at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College, Greenville, Alabama

See the link beneath the book cover on this page for free downloadable study notes.

From the moment sixteen-year-old Will Shakespeare runs away from home, his goal is to avoid danger. But fate ignores Will’s plan. “You’re a handsome boy,” Volka, the old gypsy queen, tells him. “With the right clothes, you’ll fit in with us.” Fit in with these fearsome gypsies? With their whips and knives and bears? Never! Then again, when you’re on the run, hiding from authorities, home is where you find it.

How and why did William Shakespeare go to London from Stratford? How and where did he first learn to write plays? When did he first fall in love? Runaway Will has some highly original answers while transporting readers to an adventure among the sometimes violent but also romantic gypsies in Elizabethan England.

“Runaway Will is an entertaining and quick-paced read. Young readers will enjoy following Will through several scrapes and narrow misses, and even older readers will find themselves entranced by Fisher’s historical accuracy...." – Mollie Smith Waters, English and theater instructor at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College, Greenville, Alabama

See the link beneath the book cover on this page for free downloadable study notes.